As a charity, we have to be vigilant and check our donors and their donations. One of the ways we do this is by having robust anti-money laundering (AML) processes in place. We work with our customers to follow the guidelines set down by respected industry bodies like the UK Joint Money Laundering Steering Group to guard against money laundering or the threat of terrorist financing.

WHAT WILL WE ASK YOU?

The guidelines expect us to confirm the identity of anyone who donates funds via CAF, verify sources of funding and wealth, and monitor transactions regularly. For us to do this, we may ask for details about yourself or your company, such as your date of birth or the home addresses of your board of Directors when you open a CAF account.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T CHECK OUR DONORS?

CAF trustees and staff are expected to ensure that we fulfil our legal obligation to help counter money laundering. If any charity, including CAF, knows or suspects that a donation comes from the proceeds of crime, and doesn’t report it, they could face criminal sanctions.

DO WE ALSO CHECK CHARITIES?

Yes. We carry out validation checks to ensure charities are legitimate. It’s often the most important reason our clients choose to work with us, because it means they can be sure their donation will be put to good use.

The process is especially valuable for donors who want to give money to overseas charities. Some organisations operate in countries that don’t have a charity regulator, or where laws on financial crime and money laundering are weak. Our validation work makes it possible for donors to give confidently to non-regulated charities.
Validation also protects charities, because we make sure every donation complies with all relevant UK laws.